Activity 1 - What happened in 1989?

  1. Explore - Read pages 218-221 of Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War and make notes on the events of 1989. Complete and discuss Activities 5 and 6.
  2. Watch - Examine this documentary on the revolutions of 1989 and the collapse of the Berlin Wall. As you watch, try to identify the different causes for the revolutions of 1989. 
  3. Identify - Using your notes so far, create a simple timeline of events from 1989-90 showing the key events of the people power revolutions of 1989. 

Activity 2 - What triggered the revolutions?

  1. Analyse - First read the excerpts from Gorbachev’s 1988 speech to the UN General Assembly on this worksheet. This was the speech in which Gorbachev announced that the USSR would withdraw half a million troops from the Warsaw Pact and would not use force to oppose political changes. Why do you think he made this speech?
  2. Evaluate - Now consider the values and limitations of the origins, purpose and content of this speech. Fill in the table on the worksheet with your notes and observations. Use this OPCVL chart to help you evaluate this source.
  3. Write - Now complete the last question on your worksheet. You need to write a two paragraph answer to the question. The first paragraph should evaluate the values of the source, the second should examine the limitations. In both paragraphs, try to make specific points about the origins, purpose and content of the source. The third page of this word mat can help, as can these sentence starters.
  4. Reflect - How significant was Gorbachev’s speech? Would the revolutions of 1989 have happened without it? Try to imagine yourself in 1988. Can you think of ways in which the speech was, and wasn’t, significant? Review this article for ideas.

Activity 3 - Why did Soviet rule collapse?

  1. Watch - Examine this video from 30m40s to 47m (watch the whole video if you have time!). Make notes on what happened in each satellite state on this worksheet. What factors allowed these states to regain independence
  2. Research - Now in pairs or individually, select one of the satellite states to examine in more detail. Research the factors that led to revolution in your state and complete the relevant section on the worksheet. Use the following sources to help you:
    1. ​Mamaux, A. (2015). Oxford IBDP Programme - The Cold War, pp. 203-210
    2. ​Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, pp. 216-221
    3. Williamson, D.G. (2015). Access to History - The Cold War, pp. 267-279
  3. ​Review - Complete the last column of the table on the worksheet by considering which factors were most relevant in explaining what caused the revolutions against communism in your state. Choose three of the most significant factors and rank them in order of importance.
    1. Popular dissatisfaction and Nationalist opposition groups
    2. Reformist groups within the communist parties
    3. Poor Economy
    4. Ending of the Brezhnev Doctrine
    5. Awareness of what was happening in other states
    6. Impact of Glasnost and Perestroika in USSR
  4. Present - Create a short 2-3 presentation outlining what happened during the revolution against communist rule in your satellite state, and arguing what were the main three factors that accounts for the revolution. As you listen to each group, fill in your worksheet to explore the main reasons in each state.
  5. Discuss - To what extent was people power the main reason for the revolutions of 1989? Compare your findings from all the satellite states and discuss this question as a class.

Further Reading

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. Mamaux, A. (2015). Oxford IBDP Programme - The Cold War, pp. 203-210
RECOMMENDED READING
  1. Rogers, K., & Thomas, J. (2015). Pearson Baccalaureate: History the Cold War, pp. 216-221
SUPPLEMENTAL READING
  1. Williamson, D.G. (2015). Access to History - The Cold War, pp. 267-279
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